Richard Davies was elected as a councillor for the Danefield ward by-election last week. Mr Davies won with 333 votes, a 46-vote majority, with second and third place tightly fought between Greens (287) and Lib Dems (282). He said: “I’m honoured to have been elected as the Labour Town Councillor for Danefield Ward, where I have lived for over 20 years. I d like to thank everyone who voted for me. I campaigned on the message that it is time for a change and that local politics benefits from a more diverse range of voices. But whether or not you voted for me, I promise I will work hard to represent all of the residents of Danefield ward and to make Otley a better place for all of us who live here.”
Callum Francis AN INDEPENDENT candidate in Otley Town Council elections is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his father and uncle. Callum Francis, who is standing in Danefield Ward, says he has a wealth of experience and he believes there is a real need to get some new blood on the town council and especially some opposition to the current 13 that form the present council along with a Green member . He says having worked alongside his father Nigel and his late uncle Gerard Francis on various projects in the town, he is far more knowledgeable about Otley and its problems than most people.
LABOUR’S candidate for Otley Town Council’s Danefield Ward believes that a major rethink is needed for some of the town’s roads in and around the ward. Richard Davies said: “Traffic levels and parking problems have continued to rise in Otley, but not enough is being done to ensure the safety of local people. In recent years, our councillors have pushed for some well-intentioned changes, such as the one-way system on Walkergate and 20mph limits on residential streets, but these have been poorly thought through or enforced.” Mr Davies pointed to a number of road safety problems causing concern.